Sparkling light-show by Firefly Squids!

I have seen worms glow, and flies flash lights on and off at night. Such natural powers are also seen in deep sea creatures. Such a creature is a squid that flashes deep blue light from all of its body! It is called Firefly Squid (Watasenia scintillans). It lives in West Pacific Ocean at a depth of about 1200 feet.

Its size is 3 inches in length; it has eight arms and two tentacles. Though its body has thousands of photophores that emit the light, those on the tips of the tentacles are the prominent. This light emission is by bioluminescence that is similar to that of the fireflies.

 

At night these squids come to the surface of the sea and use their lights to attract and catch the prey, small fish. Millions of them are seen from March to June at the beach of Toyoma Bay, Japan where they mate and deposit eggs. During this time, at nights, it will be great to view the beautiful natural light-show conducted by these squids.

These wonder squids are a wonder delight to the tourists, and are also a wonder delicacy to the Japanese!